New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-28
nPENING OF PARLI1MENI.

The text of the Queens speeches is glitter
mo cxample of the art of conccaling thought.
4 Xo,r 400 the address from the throne was
,,,;nteli;cib;e. so far rs foreign and Irish pol
,cv was concerned and it was fortnight NC
fore the real purposes OF the Government "cio
disclosed In tie notice abruptly gwen OF INC
introduction of a Coercion bill. The language
now employed is not more explicit lhere Is
a roundabout reference to the lrlsh pan OF
campaign" and proposals. for "thc reform OF
legal procedure" in the administration oil
criminal law are hintcd at but it is lmpoSs bic
to forecast from these expressions the trend
Of the Governments policy. The summaries
Of foreign affairs and of the work OF various
commissions are vague and unsatisfactory. A
budget Of minor legislative measures Is opened
and one scheme of magnitude is ou'llned-thc
reform Of local government; but as the session
is evidently to be devoted mainly to Irish mat
Tors this schedule possesses little interest. The
yueens Speech resembles the replies of eau
lions leader of the Commons TO awkward qucs-
tons. 1t affects TO say something, and in re-
ality does not tell anything that is not already
known.
The Houses Of Parliament are expected to
debate the reply 90 the Queens Speech for a
fortnight without having definite information
respecting the essential policy of the Govern
mcnt This annual discussion in former years
occupied only two or three nights; but it is
now the custom 10 prolong the debate for two
or three weeks. When every one is out OF
breath the addrc scs are voted and then posi-
tive intmai ions arc given Of the Governments
intentions. Delay will he useful to the pres
ent Government because, apparently, it does
not yet know its own mind and also because
Mr.. Goschen. whore assistance in the debates is
INDISPENSABLE, has been defeated in Liverpool.
A seat will have TO be provided for him, and
the elevation TO the pccrage Of the present
member for the University of Oxford Is prom
ised. IL Mr.. 1oschcn still retains any remain
ing faint Of Liberalism, his adoption as a can
didate for the Tory University will he likely
TO complete his disinfccGon. In any event
delay is inevitable. and unhappy Mr.. Smith,
with Lord Randolph Churchill ON his exposed
flank, will be left at the mercy of an Opposi
ton bench of unrivalled debating power In
tie interest of fair play, the Commons ought
TO allow Lord Salisbury the privileges of the
floor, as a leading English journal recently
adviecd. 1t would bc humane, 10 say the
least. for them to suffer the Prime Minister to
90 to the rescue Of the First Lord
Only one thing can be predicted Of the new
session with fair degree of certainty. 1t will
be an Irish session. The local government
scheme will not be seriously pressed, and few
Of the minor bills mentioned in the Queens
Speech will again lie heard of this year. Tho
Irish question still holds the field and there
it will remain until it is taken up and disposed
Of in Mr.. GladstOnes broad and progressive
spirit. The Governments vacllation tends 10
fastcn this consummation. The eagerness with
which Mr.. Chamberlain pcrseveres in the dis
c,,sson Of colonial and federal preoedcnts for
Home Rule discloses his own want Of faith in
the pcrmancnce of the Unionist coalition. The
prospect Of permanent settlement Of the Irish ]